Device for determining the location and angle of dowel-receiving holes in furniture and cabinet construction



t. 15, 1959 J. c. BLECHA DEVICE FOR DETERMINING THE LOCATION AND ANGLE OF DOWEL-RECEIVING HOLES IN FURNITURE AND CABINET CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 22, 1958 FIG. I.

FIG. 5.

INVENTOR JOSEPH C. BLECHA ATTO EY v DEVICE FOR DETERMINING THE LOCATION AND ANGLE OF DOWEL-RECEIVING HOLES IN FURNITURE AND CABINET CONSTRUCTION Joseph C. Blecha, New York, N. Application September 22, 1958, Serial No. 762,394 1 Claim. (Cl. 77-62) This invention relates to a device for determining the location and angle of dowel-receiving holes in furniture and cabinet construction and the like.

The invention will be described in terms of its application to the construction of an article of furniture, such as a stool or bench, but this is purely for purposes of illustration and should not be construed as limiting the scope of application of the invention.

In the construction of a stool or bench of the general style and character illustrated in the drawing, it becomes necessary to attach the legs to the seat at predetermined or selected angles and at predetermined or selected locations. Certain designs or styles would require that the legs be disposed at more acute angles relative to the seat and other designs or styles might require a less acute angle between the legs and the seat. This is not only a matter of style but also of preference. Another problem is the location of the legs relative to the seat since in some cases it may be desired that the seat project beyond the lower ends of the legs while in other cases it may be desired that the lower ends of the legs project beyond the outermost limits of the seat and in still other cases it may be preferred that the lower ends of the legs be disposed directly below the outer peripheral edges of the seat. These variations compounded with the variations in location of where the legs are to be attached to the seat, render it extremely diflicult to determine the locations and the angles of the holes which are to be formed in the seat to receive the dowel-ends of the legs.

At the present time two methods are commonly used to determine these locations and angles. One method is employed by established manufacturers of these articles of furniture and it consists simply in laying out the design on paper and then transferring the design to the work by means of suitable jigs, fixtures and other tools. The second method is generally employed by home craftsmen and this method may best be described as trial and error.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of a tool which may be used by home craftsmen and others, in the place and stead of jigs, fixtures and the like, to determine both the location and the angle of these dowel-receiving holes.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a tool of the character described which not only determines the location and angle of dowel-receiving holes but also provides means for drilling such holes at the location and angle thus determined.

Briefly stated, the invention comprises a gauge element which may be placed on the seat of a stool or bench under construction, at a peripheral edge thereof, a vertical rod adjustably supported by said gauge element for vertical adjustment thereon in either direction, a slide mounted on said gauge element for adjustment in a horizontal path toward and away from said vertical rod, said slide being also adapted to pivot or swivel about a horizontal axis transverse of said horizontal path of movement, a sleeve atent ice or bushing mounted on said slide for integral movement therewith, and a second rod slidably mounted in said sleeve or bushing for movement in either direction axially of itself and of said sleeve or bushing.

In the operation of this device, the vertical rod is adjusted to correspond in length, from the level of the top surface of said seat, to the overall height of the projected stool or bench. The second rod is then adjusted, both relative to the bushing and by means of the slide relative to the gauge element, so that its lower end abuts the lower end of the vertical rod while its longitudinal axis is disposed at a selected angle relative to said vertical rod.

Variations in the foregoing procedure may be had in order to produce different results. For example, the position of the lower end of the second rod relative to the lower end of the vertical rod may be varied, depending upon the desired location of the lower ends of the legs of the projected stool or bench. For example, it may be desired that the legs project at their lower ends beyond the outer peripheral edges of the seat of said stool or bench or, alternatively, it may be desired that they fall short of the outer limits of the seat. These variations and others may be achieved by simple adjustment of the device herein described and claimed.

' In the use of this device to drill holes in accordance with its setting, the, second rod is withdrawn from the bushing and a drill bit is inserted in its place. Preferably, the drill bit is driven by a conventional portable power drill. The device is placed on the seat of the proposed or projected stool or bench and the drill is used to bore a hole adapted to receive the dowel of one of the legs. This procedure is repeated at all of the corners of said seat or wherever it is desired to attach the legs.

An important feature of this invention is the fact that it is fully calibrated so that each setting may be recorded for future use. Thus, the vertical rod is calibrated as to height; the slide is calibrated as to its angular position relative to said vertical rod; and said slide is also calibrated-more particularly the gauge element carries the calibrations for horizontal adjustment relative to said vertical rod.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a device made in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view similar to that of Fig. 2 but showing a drill bit substituted for the second adjustable rod.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a side view of a stool or bench constructed with the aid of the device shown in the first five figures of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing, it will be observed that the device herein claimed includes a gauge element or jig 10 consisting of a flat, horizontally disposed bar 12, a vertically extending flange 14 extending upwardly from said bar along one side edge thereof, a corner element 16 which is connected to one end of said bar 12, said corner element including a horizontally disposed generally V-shaped plate 18 and a pair of downwardly pro,- jecting flanges 20 and 22 joined to each other at an angle of approximately degrees and connected to said plate,

projected to become seat 30 of stool or bench 32., As

u) suming for the moment that said board is of rectangular shape in plan view, said gauge element or jig would be placed at one corner thereof, bar 12 resting on top of said board, and flanges 20 and 22 abutting the side edges of said board on opposite sides of the corner. Interrupted lines 32a are intended to represent a rectangular board. It is also possible to apply this device to boards of different shape, such as disc-shaped boards, and interrupted line 33 is intended to represent a board of this shape. When the device is applied to a rectangular board, its flanges 2t) and 22 abut the sides of such board. When a circular board is employed, the forward ends of flanges 20 and 22 will abut same as Fig. 1 clearly shows. In short, corner element 16 is a jig which is adapted to center itself on boards of various shapes. The procedure above outlined is to be followed with respect to each corner of a rectangular board or at equally spaced intervals on a circular board. These board shapes are mentioned purely by way of illustration.

A vertically extending hole 36 is formed in boss 24. A tapped hole 38 in said boss receives a set screW 40 which is adjustable therein on an axis perpendicular to the axis of hole 36. A calibrated rod 42 is inserted into hole 36 and set screw 40 is adapted to engage said rod and to hold it in any selected position therein. Since hole 36 is disposed on a vertical axis when bar 12 lies in a horizontal plane, calibrated rod 42 will normally be disposed with its longitudinal axis extending vertically and it "will hereinafter be designated as the vertical rod of the device. Although rod 42 is shown to be calibrated an uncalibrated rod may also be used, for example, a quarter-inch wood dowel. It is therefore preferred that hole 36 be made of a diameter adapted to receive a quarterinch dowel with a sliding fit.

It will be observed that an elongated slot 50 is formed in flange l4, longitudinally thereof. Behind flange 14, as viewed in Fig. 2, is a plate 52 having a forwardly and outwardly extending lug portion 54 which projects into slot 59. A second plate 56 is provided in front of flange 14 as viewed in Fig. 2 and a bolt or rivet 58, extending through slot 50, connects said front plate 56 to said back plate 52. It will also be noted that front plate 56 is provided with a pair of arcuate slots 60 and 62 which are arranged concentrically with bolt or rivet '8. A pair of clamp screws 64 and 66 extend through arcuate' slots 60 and 62, their heads engaging front plate 56, and their threaded shanks engaging back plate 52. These screws serve to clamp the front and back plates to flange 14 of the gauge or jig element 10. When these screws are loosened thereon, said plates 52 and 56 are free to slide longitudinally of flange 14 and, in addition, front plate 56 is also adapted to pivot or swivel about bolt or rivet 58. It will be understood that front plate 56 and the components mounted thereon constitute what has hereinabove been designated the slide element of the present device.

Mounted on front plate or slide 56 is a sleeve 70 and removably mounted in said sleeve is a bushing 72. This bushing is provided, preferably, with a quarter-inch hole adapted to receive a conventional quarter-inch dowel 74. There should be a fairly close fit between the dowel and the bushing so that the dowel will hold any position therein which it is made to occupy but at the same time it should be possible to move the dowel to any other selected position.

Fig. 2 shows how the present device is used to determine the location and angle of a hole 31 to be formed in a board or seat 30 to receive the dowel end 31a of leg 31b of stool or bench 32. Gauge or jig element is placed on the board or seat 30 in the manner above described aud vertical rod 42 is then extended below said board or seat 3% to a len th corresponding to the projected height of said board or seat above the floor 80. Slide 56 is then moved horizontally along slot 50 and 4. angularly about bolt or rivet 58 to a selected position on flange 14 and it is then clamped in place on said flange. One way of determining the position of said slide is simply to project dowel 74 downwardly upon said slide until its lower end abuts the lower end of vertical rod 42, as shown in Fig. 2. Slide 56 may then be moved horizontally along slot 50 until dowel 74 is brought to a desired angle relative to vertical rod 42 and the slide may then be clamped in place in that position.

The several parts involved in the last described operation may be calibrated so that particular settings may be recorded and then subsequently used without the aid of vertical rod 42 and dowel 74. Thus, calibrations 82 may be provided on flange 14 and edge 84 of lug 54 may be used as an indicator relative to said calibrations. It will be understood at this point that lug 54 rides in slot 50 to help prevent angular movement of back plate 52. Screws 64 and 66 and bolt or rivet 53 also contribute to this end. But in addition to preventing such angular movement of the back plate, lug 54 and especially its far end 84, serves as an indicator relative to calibrations 82 to locate slide 56 on flange 14. In addition to the foregoing, calibrations 86 are provided on slide 56 inconcentric relation to arcuate slot 62. An indicator 88- is provided on lug 54 opposite said calibrations 86 and it thereby becomes possible to adjust the angular position of said slide 56 about bolt or rivet 58 by reference to said calibrations 86 and said indicator 88.

It may be desired on occasion to position slide 56' with its sleeve 70 and bushing 72 disposed vertically, that is, with their common longitudinal axis disposed in a vertical line. A second indicator element 90 may accordingly be provided to assure such alignment, said indicator 90 being connected to slide 56 and cooperating with calibrations 82. Indicator 90 is auxiliary to indicating edge 84 in this regard.

Since the ultimate purpose of the present device is to drill holes in a board of seat 30, the method in which this may be done and the means to be used in connection therewith will now be described. Dowel 74 is removed from bushing 72 and a second bushing 92 is inserted. in its place. This second bushing 92 is a relatively thinwalled member and it serves as a spacer in addition to serving as a bushing as will shortly appear. A set screw 94in outer bushing 72 engages inner bushing 92 and holds the latter in place in the former. The shank 96 of a drill bit 98 may now be inserted into the inner bushing 92. It will now be understood that drill bit 98 is provided with a standard size shank suitable for use in connection with a conventional power drill 100 having a quarter-inch chuck. The diameter of shank 96 is somewhat smaller than that of a conventional quarter-inch wood dowel 74 and consequently it becomes necessary to provide a spacer in bushing 72 to compensate for the difference in diameter between said dowel 74 and said shank 96. Bushing 92 is not required when the diameters of shank 96 and dowel 74 are the same.

Once the present device is set in the manner above described, drill 98 may be placed thereon in the manner shown in Fig. 3 so as to drill hole 31 in board or seat 30.

The foregoing is illustrative of a preferred form of this invention and it will be understood that this preferred form may be modified and that other forms may be provided within the broad spirit of the invention and the broad scope of the claim.

I claim:

A device for determining the location and angle of dowel-receiving holes in furniture and cabinet construction and the like, comprising a jig which is adapted to be placed on a horizontal component of an article of furniture or the like and against a vertical edge of said component, a sleeve connected to said jig with its longitudinal axis disposed ina vertical line, a first rod adjustably mounted in said sleeve for vertical adjustment therein, a slide mounted on said jig for horizontal adjustment thereon toward and away from said sleeve, said slide being also angularly adjustable about a horizontal axis which is transverse of the horizontal path of movement of said slide, a bushing mounted on said slide, and a second rod adjustably mounted in said bushing for longitudinal adjustment therein in either direction, said jig being provided with a horizontal component which is adapted to rest upon said horizontal component of an article of furniture, and a vertical component which is adapted to engage a vertical edge of said horizontal c0mpbnent of said article of furniture, the vertical component of said jig comprising a pair of vertically disposed flanges which meet at an angle of approximately 90 degrees.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 710,257 De Leeuw Sept. 30, 1902 1,207,717 Dart Dec. 12, 1916 10 2,413,677 Beitz Jan. 7, 1946 

